[Japan] JERA supplies electricity to BPO sites through solar power PPA

As of April 16, 2025, JERA Co., Inc. began supplying electricity from offsite solar power facilities to PI’s Iwate BPO Fortress last year in June, as part of an effort to move toward zero-CO2 emissions power consumption at all business process outsourcing (BPO) sites run by Prestige International (PI). [1] JERA now announces that it has newly begun supplying it to facilities at six BPO sites in Japan, through an off-site corporate power purchase agreement (PPA) using solar power. Of six sites, one is in the Hokuriku area and the remaining five are in the Tohoku area. As a result, approximately 30% of the electricity used in Tohoku will be sourced from renewable energy derived from the solar power plants. The remaining electricity will be sourced from solar plants in the Chubu area or procured from the market. Eventually, JERA will gradually introduce 24/7 carbon-free electricity at all of PI’s BPO sites, through its subsidiary JERA Cross.

[1] https://www.jera.co.jp/en/news/information/20250416_2156

[USA] Trump administration orders Empire Wind offshore wind project construction to cease

As of April 16, 2025, the US Department of the Interior has directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to order the 810 megawatt (MW) Empire Wind 1 project to cease all construction pending further review, announced Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. [1] Burgum alleged that the project was rushed through by the previous administration without sufficient analysis, in a letter to BOEM. [2] The letter states that there was insufficient consultation among relevant agencies as relates to the potential effects from the project, and that construction will remain halted until the deficiencies are addressed. [3] Equinor, the project developer, stated that all offshore construction for the project would be safely halted, but they would engage with relevant authorities to clarify the matter and consider legal remedies. [4] According to a statement by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, D, the New York project is a fully federally permitted one which had already “put shovels in the ground” prior to the President’s executive orders. BOEM had approved Empire Wind 1’s construction and operations plan in February – a final step in the process of authorizing an offshore wind project. The only steps remaining are the lessee’s submission of a facility design report and fabrication and installation report, according to the agency.

[1] https://chrissmith.house.gov/uploadedfiles/trump_admin_dept_of_interior_empire_wind_memo_signed_by_secretary_burgum_april_16_2025.pdf

[2] https://www.empirewind.com/2025/04/17/equinor-suspends-offshore-construction-activities-for-the-empire-wind-project/

[3] https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/statement-governor-kathy-hochul-74

[4] https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/renewable-energy/state-activities/Rainbow_Graphic_Wind_Authorization_Process.pdf

[USA] Trump administration ordered by court to reinstate IRA funding

On April 15, 2025, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to take immediate action to reinstate the funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that had already been awarded, after the president had frozen it on his first day in office. [1] Judge Mary McElroy of the US District court for Rhode Island ordered the Environmental Protection Agency and the Departments of Energy, Housing and Urban Development, and Interior and Agriculture to release the awards that were previously withheld, after the ruling. [2] The ruling applies to all awardees across the nation and will remain in effect until McElroy rules on the merits of the lawsuit. The ruling impedes President Trump’s plans to block the Biden administration’s climate funding law, which provides billions of dollars and tax credits for domestic manufacturers. The IIJA provides billions of dollars in clean energy funding. After the funding freeze, six nonprofits sued the agencies in March in an attempt to access their funding, after the other court orders had failed. McElroy’s grant of a preliminary injunction requires agencies to turn the funding back on while the case is pending.

[1] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.rid.59116/gov.uscourts.rid.59116.45.0.pdf

[2] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.rid.59116/gov.uscourts.rid.59116.1.0.pdf

[Japan] CF Industries Announces joint venture with JERA Co., Inc., and Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

As of April 8, 2025, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CF), the world’s largest producer of ammonia, announced today that it has formed a joint venture with JERA Co., Ltd. (JERA), Japan’s largest energy company, and Mitsui & Co., Inc (Mitsui), a global investment and trading company, for the construction, production, and offtake of low-carbon ammonia. [1] Upon formation, CF Industries will hold 40% ownership, JERA 35% ownership, and Mitsui 25% ownership in the joint venture. The venture will construct at CF Industries’ autothermal reforming (ATR) ammonia production facility in Louisiana, with a carbon dioxide (CO2) dehydration and compression unit at the site to prepare captured CO2 for transportation and sequestration. The facility will have an annual nameplate capacity of approximately 1.4 million metric tons, which is the largest by nameplate capacity in the world. Production of low-carbon ammonia is expected to begin in 2029. The companies estimate that the cost of the low-carbon ATR ammonia production facility with CCS technologies will be around $4 billion.

[1] https://www.cfindustries.com/newsroom/2025/blue-point-joint-venture

[USA] FERC and proposed ROE for Valley Link transmission project

As of April 4, 2025, filings submitted by stakeholders to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) suggest that the agency should reduce the proposed return on equity (ROE) and deny various incentives for a $3 billion transmission project planned by Transource Energy, Dominion Energy, and FirstEnergy. [1] The Valley Link transmission, which includes two 765-kV backbone transmission lines, is part of the PJM Interconnection’s latest Regional Transmission Expansion Plan, which was approved by their board in February. [2] The project is set to be built by Valley Link Transmission, a joint venture between Transource, which is owned by American Electric Power and Evergy, FirstEnergy, and Dominion. [3] In mid-March, Valley Link asked FERC to approve formula rates and transmission incentives for the project, which the company said will ensure reliability and collaboration at a time when cost-effective regional transmission development is essential. According to the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, the incentive package results in an impermissible transfer of risk onto residential ratepayers. According to the OPC, the proposed base ROE of 10.9% is too high, which is why they urged FERC to reject Valley Link’s application.

[1] https://news.dominionenergy.com/press-releases/press-releases/2025/PJM-selects-regional-transmission-projects-to-be-jointly-developed-by-Dominion-Energy-American-Electric-Power-FirstEnergy/default.aspx

[2] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250404-5218&optimized=false

[3] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250314-5309&optimized=false

[USA] Regulatory relief for certain stationary sources to promote American energy

As of April 8, 2025, the White House issued an executive order to amend a prior EPA rule titled National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units Review of the Residual Risk and Technology Review, 89 FR 38508, which reformed the existing Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule to make it more stringent. [1] The order states that coal-fired generation is necessary as an affordable means to promote energy security and the prior EPA rule represents an “unattainable” emissions control standard that jeopardizes the use of coal. The order goes on to discuss how the rule places severe burdens on coal-fired power plants by requiring compliance with standards for emissions-control technologies that do not yet exist in a “commercially viable form.” The order suggests that the current compliance timeline of the rule raises the risk of the shutdown of many coal-fired power plants, which threatens economic and energy security. It also states that certain stationary sources subject to the rule are exempt from compliance for 2 years beyond the compliance date.

[1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/rregulatory-relief-for-certain-stationary-sources-to-promote-american-energy/

[Japan] Japan’s largest onshore wind farm begins commercial operations in Abukuma Area, Fukushima Prefecture

As of April 2, 2025, Sumitomo Corporation and several other companies have been advancing the construction of the Abukuma Wind Power Plants wind farm since April 2022, through Fukushima Fukko Furyoku. [1] Construction was completed on March 31, 2025, with commercial operations starting on April 2, 2025. The renewable energy generated at the wind farm will be supplied to multiple companies and municipalities with business operations in Fukushima Prefecture through Corporate Power Purchase Agreements. A portion of the revenue from energy sales is expected to be utilized for funding reconstruction projects in local municipalities where the wind farm is located through the Fukushima Prefecture Renewable Energy Reconstruction Promotion Council. The Abukuma Wind Power Project is part of Fukushima Prefecture’s initiative to generate more than 100% of its energy demand from renewable energy sources by 2040. The wind farm is Japan’s largest onshore wind farm, comprising 46 wind turbines with a capacity of 3,200 kW each, spanning the municipalities of Tamura, Okuma, Namie, and Katsurao. The total generation capacity of the wind farm is 147,000 kW.

 [1] https://www.sumitomocorp.com/en/mideast-africa/news/release/2025/group/19910

[USA] PJM fast-track interconnection process draws 26.6 GW in proposals

As of March 21, 2025, the PJM Interconnection’s Reliability Resource Initiative (RRI), a fast-track interconnection process, attracted 94 applications totaling 26.6 GW. [1] The projects include new and uprated nuclear and natural gas-fired power plants, as well as new battery storage. [2] Half of the proposals are new projects and the other half increase capacity at existing power plants. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved PJM’s one-time RRI in mid-February on a 3-1 vote. PJM will consider adding up to 50 shovel-ready projects that meet certain reliability and commercial operation date criteria to the recently-started interconnection Transition Cycle 2. The RRI proposal is in response to PJM’s concerns that its power supply margins are declining in the face of power plant retirements and growing demand. PJM estimates that its initiative could bring about 10 GW online 18 months earlier than if the projects followed the normal interconnection process.

[1] https://insidelines.pjm.com/reliability-resource-initiative-draws-94-applications/

[2] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250211-3120&optimized=false

[USA] DOE identifies 16 federal sites across the country for data center and AI infrastructure development

As of April 3, 2025, the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced plans to continue promoting artificial intelligence (AI) while lowering energy costs by co-locating data centers and new energy infrastructure on DOE lands. [1] DOE has released a Request for Information (RFI) to inform the potential use of DOE land for AI infrastructure development to support the growing demand for data centers. The DOE has identified 16 possible sites for rapid data center construction, including those with in-place energy infrastructure that can facilitate fast-track permitting for new energy generation, such as nuclear. The Department is seeking input from data center developers, energy developers, and the broader public to advance the partnership further. This information will be used to inform development, encourage private-public partnerships, and enable the construction of AI infrastructure at select DOE sites with a target of commencing operation by the end of 2027.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-identifies-16-federal-sites-across-country-data-center-and-ai-infrastructure

[Japan] Kansai EPC: Additional investment in SkyDrive and expansion of capital and business alliance

As of March 26, 2025, the Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (Kansai EPC) entered into a new capital and business alliance agreement, as well as agreements related to additional investment, with SkyDrive Inc. [1] Kansai EPC has been collaborating with SkyDrive to date in the development of optimal charging systems for the aircraft that SkyDrive is developing, as well as in the development of energy management systems, with the aim of providing mobility services for AAM. The goal of this alliance is to collaborate to propose energy solutions to operators of vertiports and to achieve de facto standardization of charging systems for AAM. SkyDrive is the only domestic aircraft manufacturer of Aam scheduled to operate at the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025.

 [1] https://www.kepco.co.jp/english/corporate/pr/2025/pdf/mar26_1.pdf

[USA] US biodiesel use increases outside of the transportation sector

As of March 26, 2025, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) found that a small but increasing amount of biodiesel in the US is consumed in the residential, commercial, and electric power sectors. [1] Previously, all US biodiesel consumption was allocated to the transportation sector, where a vast majority is consumed. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel produced using fats, oils, or greases usually blended with petroleum diesel and consumed by trucks. In 2023, the transportation sector accounted for about 95% of the 46 million barrels of biodiesel consumed in the United States. Biodiesel can also be blended with heating oil to heat homes and businesses. Residential and commercial sectors combined accounted for nearly 5% of US total biodiesel consumption in 2023, up from about 1% a decade before. The introduction of biofuel blending mandates for heating oil in some northeastern states is contributing to this growth.

[1] https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=64824

[USA] Texas Senate passes bill to establish dispatchable power credits trading program

As of March 20, 2025, the Texas Senate passed a bill to create a new dispatchable power credits trading program that would require utilities, generation companies, and electric cooperatives in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) territory to offset new renewables and battery capacity with an equal amount of new dispatchable capacity beginning as early as next year. [1] The bill defines dispatchable generation to exclude batteries and exempts companies that only operate battery storage systems. S.B.388 updates a 25-year-old section of the Texas Utilities Code to reflect the intent of the legislature that 50 percent of the megawatts of generating capacity installed in ERCOT power region after January 1, 2026, be sourced from dispatchable generation other than battery energy storage. It requires the Texas Public Utilities Commission to establish a program through which covered utilities and power generation companies would buy dispatchable power credits to cover any deficit in dispatchable generation capacity under the companies’ ownership or control. The bill says that the PUC must activate the credit trading program if it determines that dispatchable generation may provide less than 55 percent of all new generating capacity installed in the ERCOT power region after January 1, 2026.

[1] https://legiscan.com/TX/text/SB388/2025

[USA] MISO proposes framework to accelerate generation interconnection

As of March 17, 2025, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) asked federal regulators to approve an Expedited Resource Addition Study process (ERAS) to provide a framework for the accelerated study of generation projects that can address urgent resource adequacy and reliability needs in the near term. [1] MISO asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve the ERAS proposal to be effective by May 17. MISO is on pace for near-term capacity shortfalls, if resource retirements continue as planned. MISO told FERC that recent surveys and forecasts demonstrate the urgency with which MISO needs to address significant resource adequacy needs in its footprint that are compounded by the addition of unexpected large spot loads. In its proposal, MISO said that the ERAS proposal is their answer to addressing these resource adequacy and reliability needs in the near term. MISO said it wants to sunset ERAS by the end of 2028, reflecting its intention for these projects to be completed as soon as possible and providing sufficient time to complete other queue process improvements.

[1] https://cdn.misoenergy.org/2025-03-17_Docket%20No.%20ER25-1674-000685943.pdf

[USA] EPA withdraws air quality permit for 1.5-GW Atlantic Shores offshore wind project

As of March 14, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) remanded the Atlantic Shores wind energy project’s Clean Air Act permit. [1] The Environmental Appeals Board said EPA’s Region 2 office, which covers New Jersey, requested the voluntary remand so that the region may reevaluate the project and its environmental impacts. [2] This is in light of President Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order, which mandated a pause on offshore wind leasing and a review of existing leases. The filing said that Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind filed a March 7 response objecting to the remand, asserting that the Region 2 didn’t provide good cause for it, but the board said it has broad discretion over the voluntary remand. Region 2’s review of the permit will involve conferring with other executive branch agencies regarding further evaluation of various impacts that may result from the Project, including environmental concerns.

[1] https://yosemite.epa.gov/oa/eab_web_docket.nsf/9C7B7CF33923032185258C4D0058F4A7/$File/Atlantic%20Shores%20Order%20Granting%20Motion%20for%20Voluntary%20Remand,%20FINAL.pdf

[2] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/temporary-withdrawal-of-all-areas-on-the-outer-continental-shelf-from-offshore-wind-leasing-and-review-of-the-federal-governments-leasing-and-permitting-practices-for-wind-projects/

[Japan] Project financing for Seagreen Offshore electricity transmission project in UK

As of March 10, 2025, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation signed on March 6 a loan agreement with Seagreen Phase 1 of OFTO Project Limited (Seagreen), a British company invested in by Kyuden International Cooperation, Kyushu Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Co., Inc., and Equitix Investment Management Limited of the United Kingdom. [1] JBIC will provide project financing up to approximately GBP283 million (JBIC portion) for an offshore electricity transmission project for Seagreen offshore wind farm in the UK. Co-financed with Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., and Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited, the total amount goes to approximately GBP568 million. Seagreen will own and operate the facilities for offshore electricity transmission located about 27 km off the east coast of northeast Great Britain. Seagreen will also transmit the electricity generated by the wind farm, with total generation capacity of 1,075 MW, to the National Grid for 24 years. The expertise gained from the electricity transmission service for the offshore wind farm is expected to be utilized in future projects in Japan and other countries in addition to the UK.

[1] https://www.jbic.go.jp/en/information/press/press-2024/press_00151.html

[USA] DOE approves LNG export permit extension for Golden Pass

As of March 5, 2025, the US Department of Energy (DOE) approved a liquefied natural gas export permit extension for Golden Pass LNG. [1] The project is owned by QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil and is under construction in Sabine Pass, Texas. This is the third LNG project authorization by the DOE since President Trump took office, reversing the Biden administration “pause” on export approvals. Golden Pass is set to begin exporting as early as later this year and will become the ninth large-scale export terminal operating in the United States. Once completed, Golden Pass will be able to export almost 2.57 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas as LNG. The DOE’s decision follows two February actions: the export approval for Commonwealth LNG and the order on rehearing that removed barriers to using LNG as “bunkering fuel” used by the ships transporting it.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-issues-export-approval-golden-pass-lng-accelerating-president-trumps-pledge-restore

[USA] Ontario applies 25 per cent surcharge on electricity exports to the US

As of March 10, 2025, the Ontario government has applied a 25 per cent surcharge on all electricity exports to the United States as part of their initial retaliatory measures against US tariffs on Canada. [1] The surcharge will affect 1.5 million homes in Michigan, Minnesota, and New York, costing up to $400,000 every day that it remains in place. Any generator selling electricity to the US is required to add a 25 per cent surcharge valued at $10 per megawatt-hour (MWh) to the cost of power. This surcharge is in addition to the initial round of $30 billion in retaliatory tariffs. Ontario currently exports electricity generated across the province directly to Michigan, New York, and Minnesota. Between 2021 and 2023, Ontario exported 14.6, 14.2, and 12.0 terawatt hours of electricity to the United States. Ontario has 26 transmission connections with neighboring jurisdictions: 11 with Quebec, three with Manitoba, one with Minnesota, four with Michigan, and seven with New York.

[1] https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1005690/ontario-applies-25-per-cent-surcharge-on-electricity-exports-to-united-states

[USA] US natural gas-directed rigs decreased for second consecutive year in 2024

As of March 4, 2025, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) found that the number of rigs deployed to drill for natural gas in the United States decreased over the last two years. [1] US natural-gas directed rigs decreased 32% between December 2022 and December 2024, a decline that has been concentrated in natural gas-rich Haynesville and Appalachia regions. The decline coincides with record-low natural gas prices for most of 2024 and the wider adoption of advanced drilling and completion technologies. The extent to which producers respond to price changes depends on factors such as uncertainty around future prices, contracts, volatility in the market, and price hedging; the current costs of materials, equipment and labor; and availability of transportation and storage. Producers in natural gas-rich regions have responded to these persistently low prices by drilling less and by curtailing production, which has grown the inventories of drilled but uncompleted wells. If natural gas demand and prices continue to rise, producers could be better positioned to complete these wells and increase production quickly.

[1] https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=64664

[USA] New England, New York grid operators prepare to collect millions in tariffs on Canadian electricity

As of March 3, 2025, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) and ISO New England (ISO-NE) have both made tariff-related filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in advance of a 10% tariff on Canadian electricity imports that is expected to take effect on March 4, 2025. [1] The tariff on Canadian energy resources is part of a broader set of duties on imports President Trump announced in January, which were subsequently paused for 30 days. [2] In a previous statement, ISO-NE said it was filing with FERC a proposed mechanism allowing it to collect customs duties related to electricity imported from Canada and sold into ISO-administered markets if directed by the federal government. [3] However, according to the filing, ISO-NE also believes that the custom duties described by the Trump administration do not appear to apply to electricity, and even if they do, ISO-NE would not be responsible for implementing them. [4] Similarly, NYISO said its own role in collecting the tariffs is uncertain. In a statement, NYISO emphasized that it is not yet clear whether imports of electrical energy from Canada are subject to the Canadian Tariff Order, or if they are, whether NYISO will be required to play a role in collecting or remitting duties. NYISO asserted that there are strong legal and policy arguments suggesting that the answer to both of those questions is “no”.

[1] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/docinfo?accession_number=20250228-5426

[2] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250228-5081&optimized=false

[3] https://www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/100020/exigent_circumstances_filing.pdf

[4] https://www.nyiso.com/-/nyiso-statement-regarding-tariffs-on-imported-electricity-1

[USA] Last Energy plans to deploy 600 MW of microreactors to power Texas data centers

As of February 28, 2025, Last Energy, a micro-nuclear technology developer, announced plans to build 30 microreactors in Haskell County, Texas, to serve American data center customers across the state. [1] The company will build its microreactors on a 200-acre site and provide power to off-takers through a mix of private wire and grid transmission. The company has filed for a grid connection with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and is preparing to file for an Early Site Permit (ESP) with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Last Energy’s plans are in response to the overwhelming demand from Texas-based data center developers over the past year. Last Energy’s Texas site would increase the company’s development capacity by another 30 units and enable the expansion of its commercial pipeline throughout the US. Last Energy’s Northwest Texas project will play an important role in adding capacity to the grid and meeting data center deployment projections.

[1] https://www.lastenergy.com/news-press/last-energy-announces-plan-to-deploy-30-microreactors-in-texas